Lisa Hefley

On Sunday, January 4th, 2026, Lisa Kay Hefley died after a year-long cancer diagnosis. Lisa led a short but meaningful life, passing away at 24.

Lisa was born in Topeka, Kansas, on December 10th, 2001, and spent most of her childhood in her family home near Overbrook, Kansas. Lisa attended Santa Fe Trail High School, where she was regarded as an intelligent and caring student and peer. She later attained a GED independently, much to her family’s pride. Lisa was extremely tender-hearted towards animals, leaving behind cats Beanie-Boo and Valentine, and Octavius the Chihuahua (known more widely as Stink). Shortly before her diagnosis, she achieved status as a Certified Pet Stylist after a rigorous 800-hour course, and was a responsible and well-regarded pet groomer.

During the course of her own childhood, Lisa held a protective and maternal role in the lives of her younger siblings, of whom there are many. Lisa shouldered this responsibility despite her own chronic autoimmune struggles, speaking further to her nature as a responsible caretaker. Lisa held an appreciation for the story of Peter Pan, which was fitting, given her similarity to the character Wendy Darling. Much like Wendy, Lisa came to choose temperance, maturity, and compassion when called to do so, over the immediate pleasures of Neverland.

Lisa was survived and beloved by her younger siblings, Evangeline, Justin, Elliott, Mark, and Joseph, as well as her older siblings Cody and David. She left behind a loving, dedicated, and benevolent father, Justin Joseph Hefley, her mother, Anna Davies of Lawrence, as well as her partner and caretaker, Aaron Kraus. She was predeceased by Jacob Hefley, who died in 2009.